An option explored by Mr McConnell was to move Iain Gray, Miss Alexander's eventual successor, into the Justice Department and replace him as Social Justice Minister with Cathy Jamieson, the current Education Minister. Peter Peacock, the Deputy Finance Minister, would have taken over Education.

His plans for a more wide-ranging reshuffle were ruined, however, when Mr Wallace refused his offer.

Yesterday the Scottish National Party claimed that Mr McConnell had tried to hand over responsibility for enterprise to a minister representing the junior coalition party so the First Minister could blame a Liberal Democrat in the event of an economic downturn.

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Andrew Wilson, the SNP economy spokesman, said: "The revelation that Jack McConnell offered the enterprise job to Jim Wallace shows just how little interest Labour has in the economy.

"We are on the brink of recession and yet Jack McConnell was content to see the economy brief in the Cabinet taken over by the coalition's junior partner. This was an attempt to abdicate responsibility at a time when the First Minister should be pouring all his effort into turning the economy round.

"The chaos caused by Wendy Alexander's resignation has now turned into farce. Iain Gray is now revealed to be a lame duck minister." The disagreement between Mr McConnell and Mr Wallace, who is also Deputy First Minister, was interpreted as an indication of strains developing between the two parties in the coalition.

Senior figures within the Scottish National Party yesterday rallied round John Swinney as they played down reports that he is to be usurped by Alex Salmond as party leader.

The prospect of Mr Swinney being ousted as leader was raised when it was disclosed that the MP for Banff and Buchan is planning to return to the Scottish Parliament after the 2007 election.

Mr Salmond was forced to put out a statement saying he had no intention of challenging his successor and lead the party for the second time.